A bipartisan coalition of Republican and Democrat senators is suggesting that family members of US residents should have easier access to work in the USA.

The new proposal is a foil to the revised immigration bill lined up by president George Bush.

Pandering to popular consensus, it rejects calls to grant visas to the millions of illegal immigrants already living in the States, unless they can provide specific and legitimate documentation.

Precise details of the coalition’s plans are still under wraps, but the Associated Press has learned that one of the key elements of the proposal is a programme that simplifies visa applications for current residents who already work in the USA.

The scheme would also reportedly impose tighter border controls and levy heavy fines from employers who repeatedly introduced illegal immigrants to work in the USA for low wages.

Congress recently voted to offer as many as 200,000 temporary visas to foreigners performing short-term jobs in the States.

Contributed by J.Bevan